Question about the Coast Starlight

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CTBob

CTBob

Joined
Sep 27, 2021
Messages
5
Location
Connecticut
We're looking at possibly taking the Coast Starlight one-way between Seattle and LAX at the end of January. It doesn't matter which way, so what direction will have the better scenery during the short winter daylight hours? I wish I could take all my trips in late June when the days are longest but sadly that's not possible. Also, which side of the train is better, the windows facing the east or the west? Thanks!
 
I’v only rode the LAX to Oakland. I would want to ride this section northbound and sitting on the west side for the views.
Headed northbound you would definitely get the best ocean view during daylight hours, headed south you might miss out on a lot of it.
The CS has an observation car so if you plan to stay in there for a lot of the trip I wouldn’t worry too much about an assigned seat on either side.
Enjoy the trip, it’s beautiful!
 
We're looking at a sleeper, so it's good to plan which side of the train would be best for scenery. I will definitely spend time in the observation car, but having a roomette is good for relaxing too. So when I call to make the reservation, I'll ask for the preferred side.
 
For the southern portion of the route, especially SLO to OXN, I would recommend the west facing windows. For the northern portion through the Cascades I would recommend the east facing windows. Depending on the timing of the train, it is likely you would be able to see Mt. Shasta on the east about sunrise. BTW, I once was able to see Mt Shasta in the light of a full moon while heading south.
Check the timetable to see scheduled times and compare to sunrise and sunset times for those areas.
Overall, northbound would probably be better in terms of daylight.
 
CTBob said:
We're looking at a sleeper, so it's good to plan which side of the train would be best for scenery. I will definitely spend time in the observation car, but having a roomette is good for relaxing too. So when I call to make the reservation, I'll ask for the preferred side.
Click to expand...
There is no (reliable) way to predict which side of the train a room/roomette will be on. The cars (except for the transistion sleeper beind the baggage car) may be oriented in either direction at the will of the yard crews when the train is made ready for departure. An Amtrak agent will not know this and will not be able to accomodate such a request.
 
1. Northbound, you get crossing the Cascades between Chemult and Eugene mid morning rather than at dusk. You also are guaranteed the coastal running between very roughly Oxnard and San Luis Obispo in the daylight. If the southbound train is significantly delayed some or all of that can be after dark.
2. Northbound, the left side relative to the direction of travel has the ocean views, though it is facing into the hillside through much (though not all) of the Cascades. However, that information is of little use in a sleeper. Sleepers can and do run either end forward so the side a given room is on cannot be predicted. If you absolutely have your heart set on a side, try to reserve a roomette in the transdorm, which I am fairly sure, though not positive, runs in the 40 car line on the Starlight. Those have to run low level transition end forward. Odd numbered roomettes will be on the left.
 
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CTBob said:
We're looking at possibly taking the Coast Starlight one-way between Seattle and LAX at the end of January. It doesn't matter which way, so what direction will have the better scenery during the short winter daylight hours? I wish I could take all my trips in late June when the days are longest but sadly that's not possible. Also, which side of the train is better, the windows facing the east or the west? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Every trip there is something to see. Book and enjoy. Tell us all about it.
 
I second all the comments about northbound direction, and left side for the ocean. If your luck does not run to a roomette on the left, you can head for the sightseer lounge for the views. I travel almost exclusively in winter, and Zephyr17 is right on about the timing of daylight stretches being best.

I don't at all mind a roomette on the right, though, because then I can just roll over and peek out the window curtain as soon as it's light out to see Mt. Shasta. Do try for a full moon, or just after the full moon, so the moon will be big and high in the morning. If you are lucky, it will also be a clear night (iffy at the end of January). If you are on-time, you will pass the closest views in the dark. As it gets light, take every opportunity to look backwards along the right side of the train, to see if you can catch the mountain. You can definitely see Mt Shasta from the station stop in Klamath Falls by exiting the train and looking south. By the time the train gets there, it is always light out.

Calendar note: unfortunately, the timing of the full moons in January and February are not good, so that isn't going to be a factor for you.
 
I definitely agree, for the reasons given in this thread, that the northbound Starlight offers the most scenic views. However, I do remember some wonderful views of sunset when the southbound train approached Klamath Lake,

Too bad the Shasta Daylight wasn't still around. Good photo ops for Mt. Shasta during daylight. If the Shasta Daylight were to return, I guess it would have to take the natron cutoff as does the Starlight. And, if they didn't change the old schedule, the northbound train got into Portland very late, after 11 PM.
 

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